Its Been A While...

No not the song by the band Stained... Staind?? Whatever that bands name was with the lead singer who sung all funky...



Oh this band... lol

Okay, off topic.... It has been some time since I last blogged about the happenings in my life!

I have finally finished the cotton flower block print dress.  I pleated close to 3 yards of fabric into the back of the dress and gave it an ever so elegant baby train.  I have yet to get it picture on a person, though as soon as I do, I will have pictures up in a heart beat.  Here are the tiny pleats, which are on top of deep pleats underneath.

Hand Pleats

 As soon as I finished this dress, I started looking into new patterns.  I have been using the same pattern for all the round gowns but I change them up with different skirts and sleeves.  I really want to dive into overdress patterns which are usually typical of earlier Regency period (1795ish).  I did end up finding one through Patterns of Time.

This pattern is very simple and easy to understand AS LONG AS you are familiar with period correct patterns and the way bodices go together.  Even though I've made close to 10 regency dresses for myself and others, I still consider myself a newb.  I feel like I still have tons to learn and this patterns instructions were a little confusing at first.  I did go out and buy beautiful fabric for this overdress.  It is a cotton teal and cream damask fabric.  I will make a plain white round gown to go underneath as well.

I have the craft room all set and all 10 yards of fabric have been washed!!  Now comes the worst part of sewing...Ironing newly washed fabric...Blarg!

Now that all 10 yards are ironed, they are ready to be cut and assembled!!!  

WOOO!!  I will update once I get a little bit further in the process~!  

Have a good one intrawebs!

Love & Lollipops!

Back Home

Hello Intrawebs!!!

I'm back home and in the states again!

Sort of sad vacation is over and that I have to be back at the daily job, but none the less it has happened and I'm back in the craft room. 

I left my flower block print dress partially assembled before I left to Canada and I finally am back in the groove for sewing.  Well....sort of rusty.  I went to put the sleeves in my dress and ended up putting them too far back in the dress so the fit was completely messed up! So, the most hateful part of sewing had to happen....unpicking seams.  UGH!  I HATE IT!! I'm such a perfectionist and I like to do something once and have it perfect.  That is not the case when it comes to Regency gowns.  To make it perfect, you must try, unpick seams, sew again, unpick seams, sew again.  Usually by the third try I can have it it right and a good fit.  None the less though, IT SUCKS!!  

Putting sleeves in a Regency are such a pain in the arse!  Since the seams and fitting of the dresses do not follow today's conventions, the pleating and extra room are towards the back of the dress to allow moving room for your arms with period stays on.  Unlike seams today which are at the top of the dresses along the top shoulder seam.  UGH.  They are a pain to get right!!  GEESH!  I just need more time to practice I guess, but even doing this for about a year, I still have yet to perfect a sleeve in one sew swoop!


Now back to work and I can't wait for this dress to be finished~!

Here are few pictures from my trip to Victoria.  So much beauty in that tiny city!

Buschart Gardens

Buschart Gardens

Buschart Gardens

Afternoon Tea @ Buschart Gardens

The Empress Hotel

Craigdarroch Castle